New Chair appointed

26 Jul 2022

Philippa Hird appointed as next Chair of the University's Board of Governors. Edward Astle steps down on 1 September 2022 after completing six years as Chair

Philippa Hird has been appointed as the next Chair of the University's Board of Governors taking up the role on 1 September 2022. She will take over from outgoing Chair, Edward Astle, who has now completed six years in that role and a total of eight years on the Board.

Philippa has been a member of the Board of Governors since October 2021. She is an independent director with a particular interest in governance, people strategy, recruitment, remuneration and the delivery of complex change.

Pro-Chancellor, Jim Hancock, (on behalf of the Board Nominations Committee) said: ‘Philippa is an outstanding individual to take on the role of Chair of the Board of Governors at the University. She has a vast array of experience in both non-executive and executive roles vital to both support and challenge our executive leadership team and continue to move forward our wider governance agenda.’

Philippa Hird commented: ‘It is a privilege to have been appointed by the Board as the next Chair of this great University and my first priority is to build on the knowledge, I have already acquired about all the great things we do and the people that make that happen.

‘I believe that the focus in ‘Our Future’ strategy on research, education and social responsibility are the right ones to allow The University to thrive in what is a particularly challenging moment for higher education in the UK. We are well placed to seize the opportunities of a rapidly changing competitive, regulatory, and technological environment.

‘I aim to continue to develop the Board to ensure that we have the right diverse mix of skills and experience to support and challenge the Executive in meeting all the demands of the current landscape.’

Philippa Hird Background

Philippa is an independent director with a particular interest in governance, people strategy, recruitment, remuneration and the delivery of complex change.

She is currently Senior Independent Director and Remuneration Committee Chair of Ordnance Survey, Chair of the NHS Pay Review Body and a Non-Executive Director of UK Strategic Command.

As Group Human Resources Director of ITV Plc until 2009, Philippa shaped the consolidation of the regional ITV companies. Prior to that, she held general management and then HR roles in Granada Group Plc.

She began her career in marketing with ICI and has an MA in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from The Queen's College Oxford.

Philippa has been Deputy Chair and Remuneration Committee Chair of City, University of London and of AQA, a non-executive director of HMRC and of the Remuneration Consulting Group, a Board member of Opportunity Now and of Creative Skillset and Vice President of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD). She is a Companion of the CIPD and a fellow of the RSA.